Microsoft is setting aside 396 million euros for a possible GDPR fine for LinkedIn

Microsoft has set aside 425 million dollars, about 396 million euros, for a possible Irish fine. LinkedIn, part of Microsoft, may have violated the GDPR with its advertising policy. Although Microsoft denies this, it warns investors that it may be fined.

Microsoft has investors according to Reuters informed of the fine. Microsoft is setting aside 396 million euros this year in anticipation of this. This concerns a fine that the Irish Data Protection Commission would like to impose on the company, although this has not yet been made public.

The Irish privacy regulator started an investigation into LinkedIn in 2018, which has been part of Microsoft since 2016. The DPC is investigating whether LinkedIn violated the GDPR by not having a good basis for collecting personal data for displaying personalized advertisements. Officially, the DPC has not yet completed that investigation or said anything publicly about it. However, Microsoft is said to have been informed in April that the DPC intends to issue that fine. That’s not unusual; Supervisors can inform companies of an intention so that they can defend themselves.

Microsoft expects the fine in the fourth quarter of 2023. The company had already set aside money for that possible case, but now says in a statement to Reuters that it will increase that amount. Microsoft also says that it will appeal the fine, although it is not clear on what grounds the company is doing so.